Family still waiting for luggage

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33819, 16 April 1975, Page 27

Family still waiting for luggage

(From Our Own Reporter) TIMARU. The connotations of the words: “Not Wanted on Voyage” have unhappy memories for Mr and Mrs A. M. Webster, of Abbot Street, Pareora.

On July 4, 1974, at Littleover. Derby, England, Mr Webster and his English wife, Gwyneth, packed their clothing and possessions in five large packing cases before they and their two children, Tan, now aged eight, and Clare Louise, aged two, flew from Heathrow Airport, London. The Webtster family arrived in New Zealand on August 23, but the packing cases containing “everything but the kitchen sink,” have still not arrived. Mr Webster, a fitter by trade, is now working as supervisor at the Intellectually Handicapped Children’s Society workshop in Timaru. He is finding it hard to make ends meet.

The couple need winter clothing, bedding, crockery,: cutlery and kitchen utensils.. They 'have spent practically: all their savings on their house. which they are redecorating themselves and have borrowed bedding and other necessities. “ROUGHING IT”

Mrs Webster said they were “browned off.” “We have roughed it enough. We are now in the tenth month, and if there has been any misappropriation it should be exposed.” She said someone needed •‘shaking up,” and that the delay in the delivery of their property showed a “dilatory” attitude on the part of transport operators in general. “Considering that most of us are English, they must think the English are a soft touch,” Mrs Webster said. NOT KNOWN The couple did not know where their possessions were. It seemed that the transport

operators did not know either.

The family arrived in New Zealand with three large suitcases.

Mr Webtster said that Frank Porter, Ltd, of Derby, advised them on September 23, 1974, that the consignment of household effects had been registered for shipment with Meraire Forwarding Company, Glasgow, but because of the present container shortage the company could not at that stage tell them the name of the ship on which the consignment would be sent. The consignment was to have been sent on a container ship due in November. The local agents were New Zealand Express Company, Ltd, Christchurch. Mr Webster said their belongings were insured with Lloyds through Stewart Wrightson (United Kingdom) Ltd.

They were insured from July 8, 1974. for a total sum of £560. They were insured for the voyage from the United Kingdom to South Canterbury.

“This figure is unrealistic in terms of present prices,” Mr Webster said. Had he known such an emergency would have arisen he would have insured their belongings at more than double that I amount. SHIPPING SPACE i On October 23, Frank I Porter, Ltd, told Mr Webster I that because of a 'shortage lof shipping space there was a three-month delay on general goods and an eightmont'i delay for vehicles. The two-month Liverpool dock strike and a strike of road haulage workers in Scotland added to the problems. On November 27, Mr Webster received a through bill of lading stamped “freight paid.” The vessel was shown as the Sirara, port of destination being Auckland and final destination Timaru. The agent remained the New Zealand Express Company — but the address was given as Auckland, not Christchurch. Towards the end of December, Mr Webster wrote to the New Zealand Express Company which advised him that no documents had been received from the forwarding agents. TRANSFERRED Mr Webster communicated with the Express Company on January 15, and was notified that nine days earlier a telex message had been received from the Meraire 'Forwarding Company to the effect that all consignments 'on the Sirara had been transferred to the Voce, which iwas expected to reach Auckland at the end of January. iNo bills of lading from this 'company had been received, land as soon as these arrived Mr Webster would be advised concerning the customs clearance and delivery of the goods, the letter said. The five packing cases contain rugs, clothing, a stereo, a child’s bicycle, tools, electrical goods, toys, sewing machine, chairs, garden furniture, glassware and personal and household effects of even - descriotion including articles of sentimental value.

"We splashed a bit in order to come to this country, and bought bedding and crockerv md children’s clothing in arger sizes because of the •ost of such goods in New Zealand.” said Mrs Webster SURFACE MAIL

They had sent three parcels excess baggage by surface nail. These arrived before Christmas.

“I have given up hope of eeing the major consignnent. It will be a miracle if ,ve see it again,” Mr Webster

said. What amazed him, he added, was that no-one seemed to know where it was.

He said that if he received no satisfaction from the New Zealand Express Company within the next four or five days, he would put the Minister of Transport (Sir Basil Arthur) on the job.